Student Achievement in Pennsylvania

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Student Achievement in Pennsylvania
Edward G. Rendell Governor
Dr. Gerald L. Zahorchak Secretary of Education
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PA Students Are Making Gains

• Student achievement continues to rise.  More
  students are on grade level today in reading and
  math at the elementary, middle and high school
  levels than they were five years ago.  Nearly 7
  in 10 PA students are on track for success.
• Pennsylvania is meeting its No Child Left Behind
  achievement targets at all grade levels in
  reading and in math.  Despite an increase in the
  number of grades and performance targets, 92 of
  school districts and 77 of schools met all of
  their AYP targets this year.
• Investment matters.  Pennsylvania's achievement
  targets are increasing in the 2007-08 school year
  -- and it is more important than ever to invest
  in the programs that are proven to work and to
  provide the essential supports so schools can
  succeed.

3
Pennsylvania Students Achieving

• 2007 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment
  (PSSA) shows student achievement in Pennsylvania
  continues to rise.
• In 2007 grades 3-8 and 11 were tested for the
  second year.
• 69.2 of Pennsylvania students are now on grade
  level in math.
• 67.7 of Pennsylvania students are now on grade
  level in reading.

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Pennsylvania Students Exceeded NCLB Targets45
above proficient in math
no test administered
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Pennsylvania Students Exceeded NCLB Targets 54
above proficient in reading
no test administered
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Pennsylvania On Track to Meet Next Year's Higher
Targets in Math
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Pennsylvania On Track to Meet Next Year's Higher
Targets in Reading
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Student Achievement Continues to Rise5th grade
sees large gain in math, progress in reading
since 2002
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Student Achievement Continues to RiseDouble
digit gains in 8th grade reading and math since
2002
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Student Achievement Continues to RisePA making
progress in boosting high school achievement
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All Pennsylvania Students Making GainsIncreases
in 5th grade students performing on grade level
2001-02 to 2006-07
11.2
Reading
African-American
26.7
Math
6.4
Reading
Latino
20.9
Math
7.6
Economically Disadvantaged
Reading
24.4
Math
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All Pennsylvania Students Making Gains
Increases in 8th grade students performing on
grade level 2001-02 to 2006-07
26.7
Reading
African-American
24.3
Math
21.4
Reading
Latino
24.0
Math
25.1
Economically Disadvantaged
Reading
24.3
Math
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All Pennsylvania Students Making Gains
Increases in 11th grade students performing on
grade level 2001-02 to 2006-07
9.7
Reading
African-American
7.3
Math
7.5
Reading
Latino
6.4
Math
Economically Disadvantaged
13.0
Reading
9.8
Math
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Pennsylvania is Closing the Achievement Gap

• Since 2002

• The gap between white and African-American
  students has closed by 10.2 percentage points for
  5th grade math
• The gap between white and Latino students has
  closed by 8.5 percentage points for 8th grade
  math and
• The gap between economically disadvantaged and
  non-economically disadvantaged students has
  closed by 8.6 percentage points for 8th grade
  reading.

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Pennsylvania Proves That Special Education
Students Can Achieve At High Levels
Special education (IEP) students percent above
proficient 2001-02 to 2006-07.
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Investments Matter

• Project 720 - Improving our High Schools
• 24 more students on grade level in math
  but only 1 in 4 high schools are currently
  participating.
• Distinguished Educators Support for Struggling
  Districts
• 7 of 11 of the most academically challenged
  school districts now meeting all AYP targets.
• Need to Accelerate Progress in Order to Meet
  Higher Achievement Targets
• 2,000 schools need to make gains, state
  must invest in proven programs.

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The Bottom Line
Student Achievement Is On The Rise

• Over 200,000 more students are above proficiency
  in math this year as compared to 2002. 
• Almost 130,000 more students are above
  proficiency in reading this year as compared to
  2002. 
• The achievement gap between student subgroups is
  narrowing and PA is reaching special education
  students, who are the most difficult to educate.
• Our investments are paying off and show that even
  more work remains.

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Focusing On Success For All Students

• This year's results hold schools accountable for
  more student subgroups (racial and ethnic
  minorities, low-income students and students
  requiring special education) than ever before --
  helping PA focus on boosting achievement for
  every student.
• In PA, a subgroup only counts for AYP if it has
  at least 40 students -- ensuring fairness and
  confidentiality.
• The number of schools with 3 or more subgroups
  increased from 443 to 1,244, a 76 increase, from
  last year to this year.

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PA School Districts Are Meeting AYP Targets

• This years Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
  results are the first to include all of the
  grades required by No Child Left Behind 3
  through 8 and 11.
• Even with more performance targets to meet, 92
  of Pennsylvania school districts met all of their
  AYP targets in 2007.

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PA Schools Are Meeting AYP Targets

• Even with more performance targets to meet, 77
  of Pennsylvania schools met all of their AYP
  targets in 2007.

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The Bottom Line PA On Track for Success
We must rise to the challenge

• Student achievement continues to rise.  More
  students are on grade level today in reading and
  math at the elementary, middle and high school
  levels than they were five years ago.  Nearly 7
  in 10 PA students are on track for success.
• Pennsylvania is meeting its No Child Left Behind
  achievement targets at all grade levels in
  reading and in math.  Despite an increase in the
  number of grades and performance targets, 92 of
  school districts and 77 of schools met all of
  their AYP targets this year.
• Investment matters.  Pennsylvania's achievement
  targets are increasing in the 2007-08 school year
  -- and it is more important than ever to invest
  in the programs that are proven to work and to
  provide the essential supports so schools can
  succeed.

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Question and Answer
Edward G. Rendell Governor
Dr. Gerald L. Zahorchak Secretary of Education